Innerchi Acupuncture Tradition · 640 Belle Terre Rd, Bldg D2, Port Jefferson, NY 11777
Effective date: 08/07/2026 · Last updated: 08/07/2026
This policy explains how Innerchi Acupuncture Tradition ("we," "us," "our") collects, uses, protects, and shares information in connection with text messaging (SMS and MMS). It applies to anyone who provides us a mobile phone number, including patients, prospective patients, and people who contact our office.
We are a small acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine practice. We treat your information the way we treat you in the treatment room — carefully, privately, and only in service of your care.
1. Information We Collect
In connection with text messaging, we may collect:
● Contact information — your name, mobile phone number, and email address.
● Consent records — the date, time, and method by which you agreed to receive text messages from us, and any later request to stop.
● Message content and metadata — the text of messages you send us and we send you, along with timestamps and delivery status.
● Scheduling information — appointment dates, times, and confirmation or cancellation status.
We ask that you do not send detailed health information by text message. See Section 7 below.
2. How We Use Your Mobile Number
We use your mobile number only to communicate with you about your care and our practice. Specifically, we send:
● Appointment reminders, confirmations, and scheduling notices — including reschedule requests, cancellations, waitlist openings, and office closures or delays.
● Conversational replies — two-way, human-to-human responses when you text us with a question, a scheduling request, or a reply to one of our messages.
We do not send marketing or promotional text messages unless you separately and expressly opt in to receive them.
3. How You Give Consent
We send text messages only to people who have opted in. You may opt in by:
● Checking the SMS consent box on our intake, scheduling, or contact form (the box is optional and is never pre-checked);
● Providing written consent on a paper form in our office;
● Giving verbal consent in person or over the phone, which we log; or
● Texting us first, which establishes implied consent for us to reply conversationally.
Consent to receive text messages is never a condition of receiving treatment, scheduling an appointment, or purchasing any product or service from us.
4. Sharing of Your Information
No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.
No mobile opt-in data or text message consent will be shared with any third parties or affiliates.
Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent are not shared with anyone, under any circumstances, except with the service providers that operate our phone and messaging systems solely so that they can deliver messages on our behalf. Those providers are bound by contract to use the information only for that purpose and may not use it for their own marketing.
We do not sell, rent, trade, or lease your mobile number, message content, or consent information.
We may disclose information only where required by law — for example, in response to a valid subpoena, court order, or lawful request from a government authority, or where disclosure is necessary to prevent serious harm.
5. Opting Out and Getting Help
You may stop receiving text messages from us at any time.
● Reply STOP to any message to opt out. We will send one final message confirming you have been unsubscribed, and no further texts will be sent to that number.
● Reply HELP for assistance, or contact us using the information in Section 11.
● You may also opt out by telling us in person, by phone, or by email.
If you opt out, we will still contact you by phone, email, or mail as needed regarding your care and appointments.
To rejoin, reply START or ask us to re-enroll your number.
6. Message Frequency and Cost
Message frequency varies and depends on your appointment schedule and how often you contact us. Message and data rates may apply according to your mobile carrier's plan. We are not responsible for charges from your carrier. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
7. Health Information and HIPAA
We are committed to protecting your health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and applicable state law.
Standard text messaging is not a secure or encrypted channel. Messages can be intercepted, misdirected, or read by anyone with access to your phone.
Because of this, our text messages are limited to scheduling and general practice logistics. We keep clinical detail out of text messages, and we ask that you do the same. Please do not text symptoms, diagnoses, test results, medication or herbal formula details, insurance identifiers, or other sensitive health information.
By opting in to text messaging, you acknowledge these risks and consent to receive appointment-related messages by SMS. For anything clinical, please call the office or raise it at your visit, where we can speak privately.
Our full Notice of Privacy Practices, which describes your rights regarding your protected health information, is available at https://www.acupuncturetradition.com/office-policies or on request at the front desk.
8. Data Retention and Security
We retain mobile numbers, consent records, and message logs only as long as needed for your care, for our business operations, and to meet legal and recordkeeping requirements. Opt-out records are retained indefinitely so that we can honor your request and not message you again.
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect the information we hold, including access controls on our phone and scheduling systems. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
9. Your Choices and Rights
You may ask us to confirm what contact information we hold for you, correct it, or delete your mobile number from our messaging system. Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights under state privacy law, including the right to know what personal information we collect and the right to request deletion. Contact us using the information below and we will respond within the time required by law.
10. Children
We do not knowingly enroll anyone under 13 in text messaging. For patients who are minors, a parent or legal guardian provides consent and receives messages on the minor's behalf.
11. Contact Us
Questions about this policy, or about text messages you have received from us:
● Innerchi Acupuncture Tradition
● 640 Belle Terre Rd, Bldg D2, Port Jefferson, NY 11777
● Phone: 631-403-3254
● Email: gethealthy@acupuncturetradition.com
● Website: https://www.acupuncturetradition.com
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The current version will always be posted at https://www.acupuncturetradition.com with a revised "last updated" date. Material changes affecting how we use your mobile information will be communicated to you before they take effect.
SMS Terms of Service
Program description
By opting in, you agree to receive conversational and informational text messages from Innerchi Acupuncture Tradition, including appointment reminders, appointment confirmations, scheduling and rescheduling notices, office closure notices, and replies to messages you send us.
Standard disclosures
● Reply STOP to opt out; reply HELP for support.
● Message and data rates may apply.
● Message frequency may vary.
● Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
● Visit https://www.acupuncturetradition.com/office-policies to see our Privacy Policy and terms and conditions.
